Yarn handling apparatus



March 1954 R. e. TESSMER ETAL 3,122,874

YARN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 20. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 9 T 5 2 2 2 2 R SE I M 5 Ilnl TMWSD NEE v.- mJ 1 N W W fl I H r R kn"! M 50 T T FIG RAY 10H NET BY KEN W FIG. I-

FIG.'3'

March 3, 1964 R. G. TESSMER ETAL 3,122,874

YARN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 20. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RAYMOND G. TESSMEH' JOHN A. WILLES BY KENNETH J.AD DIS WaWWA ATTORNEY March 1964 R. e. TESSMER ETAL 3,

YARN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS RAYMOND e TESSMER JOHN A. wu u-:s A BY KENNETH J. ADD|S W wwA AT TO RN EY 3,122,874 YARN HANDLING APPARATUS Raymand G. Tessrner, .lohn A. Willes, and Kenneth J. Addie, Spartanbnrg, SAL, assignors to Deering Milliken Resemch Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 29, 1'96), Ser. No. 30,656 17 Claims. (Cl. 51-34) This invention relates to yarn handling apparatus, and more particularly to improved apparatus for forming waste yarn wraps and transfer tails on a bobbin prior to the formation of the main yarn package on the bobbin.

In the copending application of Raymond G. Tessmer, Serial Number 30,655, filed May 20, 1960, now Patent No. 3,095,683, there is disclosed a unique method and apparatus for forming waste yarn wraps and transfer tail wraps on a bobbin preceding the formation of the yarn package on the bobbin. While the apparatus as disclosed schematically in this copending application is fully operative and capable of affording the practice of the method as disclosed in that application, the apparatus requires a considerable degree of skill on the part of the operator in order to correlate the time of movement of the various operating and actuating members to efiect the most desirable formation of transfer tail wraps according to the in vention. In the normal operation in a textile manufacturing facility, it is most desirable that such apparatus as are employed be capable of operation in as simple a manner as possible, and with as little skill being required as possible. It is accordingly a major feature of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus which is capable of forming waste yarn wraps and transfer tail wraps preceding the formation of a yarn package on a bobbin in a facile and simple manner requiring a minimum of skill on the part of the operator.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a dual acting transfer-tail-forming apparatus which may be utilized when twisting in either a counterclockwise or clockwise direction, or in other words when imparting either 8 or Z twist to the yarn.

Still other features, objects, and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment constructed according to the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURES 1-6 schematically illustrate in perspective view, with partial cut-away portions for the purpose of clarity of illustration, a preferred physical embodiment according to the invention, the operation of the apparatus being illustrated in step-by-step schematic relation in these figures beginning with FIGURE 1 and proceeding to FEGURE 6.

FIGURE 7 is an assembly view in partial section illustrating the mechanism for moving the auxiliary ring rail and for releasing the yarn from the auxiliary traveler as employed in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-6.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the mechanism of FIGURE 7, Without the auxiliary ring.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded and inverted perspective view of the lifting cam and the ring support bracket of FIGURES 7 and 8.

FIGURES 10 and 11 are enlarged perspective and elevation views respectively, of the auxiliary traveler as illustrated in FIGURES l6.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied in the preferred form to a conventional down-twister take-up arrangement including a traverse ring 11 and associated traveler 13 which may be suitably mounted on a traverse rail (not shown) for traversing along a desired length of a bobbin B mounted on a suitably rotatably driven spindle 15 in Patented Mar. 3, 1954 order to build a twisted yarn package of desired configuration on the bobbin. The design and construction of the spindle 15, spindle drive, primary traverse ring 11 and traveler 13, and supporting rail and builder traverse mechanism may be of any conventional or other desired form, and accordingly such is not shown or described in detail herein.

In the above-mentioned copending application of Tessmer, Serial Number 30,655, there is disclosed an arrangement including an auxiliary ring and traveler mounted for limited movement along the axis of the spindle and independently of the conventional traverse ring and traveler. There is also disclosed means for manipulating this auxiliary ring and traveler, as well as means for effecting the release of yarn from the auxiliary traveler after the formation of a transfer tail thereby. The present invention is directed to improvements in the mounting and moving arrangement for the auxiliary ring and traveler as well as in the yarn release arrangement md mode of actuation thereof.

To this end an auxiliary ring 17, which may be unitary, two-piece or other desired construction, with an associated auxiliary traveler 19 slidably engageable thereon, is secured, as by screws, to a ring support bracket 21 disposed in vertical sliding movement on a tubular post 23 disposed in parallel relation to and to one side of the bobbin supporting and driving spindle 1'5. Tubular post 23 may be suitably secured as by a set screw 26 in a vertical bore formed in a mounting bracket 25 in turn secured to the twister frame (not shown) as by a bolt (not shown) extending through a bore 255 in the lower leg portion 25a of the mounting bracket 25.

A collar 27 is secured to the mid-section of the tubular post 23 as through the medium of a set screw 28. Mounted also on the post 23 in vertically and angularly sliding supported relation on the collar 27 is a manually operable lifting cam member 29. Supported in turn on the flat upper surface of the lifting cam member 29 is the ring support bracket 21 which is vertically :slidable on the tubular post. The upper end of the tubular post 23 has a key 23a formed thereon which is engageable with a corresponding complementary vertical slot 381a formed in the bore 31 of the ring support bracket 21 to thereby slidably hold the ring support bracket in nonrotating relation to the post 23 and mounting bracket 25. The ring support bracket 21 and lifting cam member 2-35 are removably secured on the post 23 and resiliently biased downwardly thereon through the medium of a tension spring 33 disposed within the tubular post 23 (see FIG- URE 7) and held in position as by oppositely disposed end caps 35 having hooks 35a extending therefrom.

Mounted in vertically sliding relation on a laterally protruding arm 37 on the ring support bracket 21 is a yarn retarding and release member 39. Yarn release member 39 has two oppositely extending yarn release arms 39a, 39b which serve to effect release of the yarn Y from the auxiliary traveler 19 irrespective of whether the yarn is being twisted in the S or Z direction. The vertically extending stem 39c of the yarn release member is noncircular in cross section, and the illustrated example has a square cross section, there being a complementary vertical square guide aperture 37a therefor in the support arm 37 thereof, in order to prevent angular movement of the yarn release member 39 about its vertical axis. The stem 390 of the yarn release member has a pin 39d or other stop abutment formed thereon which establishes the lower position of the yarn release member 39 relative to the auxiliary ring 17.

The fixed collar 27 has a cam engaging pin or finger 2.7a formed on its upper surface which engages with a face cam surface, generally indicated at 41, formed on the lower surf-ace of the lifting cam member 23". The

face cam surface 41 has a first dwell surface 41a and a second dwell surface 410 vertically separated from the first dwell surface 41a by an inclined cam surface 41b. In the initial quiescent position of the lifting cam member 29, the first or upper dwell surface 4 1a rides on the cam-engaging finger 27a, while in an intermediate position of the lifting cam member 29 the inclined cam face 411'; rides On the cam engaging finger 27a and causes a vertical movement of the lifting cam member 2h, and the ring support bracket 21 and auxiliary ring 17 as a function of clockwise movement of the lifting cam member 29. The slope and angular as well as vertical extent of the intermediate inclined cam surface 41b may be varied as desired, one practical exarnple having a cam slope of approximately 30 and a vertical rise of approximately .3 inch. During the latter portion of the movement of the lifting cam member 29 the secondary dwell cam surface 410 rides on the cam engaging finger 27a for a desired angular distance, of for instance 60, thus maintaining the lifting cam member 2?, ring support bracket 21 and ring 17 in a desired vertically raised position.

Also formed on an arm43 extending from the lifting cam member is an inclined cam surface 45 adapted to engage in an inclined plane relation with the lower end of the yarn release member stern 39a. The release member actuating cam surface 45 is positioned on the member 29 relative to the inclined face cam surface 41b and the position of the cam engaging finger 27a and the release member stem 390 such that the inclined cam surface 45 engages with the stem 39c shortly after (e.g. after approximately 40 further angular movement of the lifting cam member 29 clockwise about its axis) the lifting cam moves to the secondvertical dwell position where the secondary dwell surface 410 is in engagement with the cam engaging finger 27a. Continued angular movement of the lifting cam member 29 by the hand lever 29a in the clockwise direction will cause the yarn release member 39 to be cammed upwardly to the yarn release position, as shown in FIGURES 46. The final clockwise position of the lifting cam member 29 is that shown in FIGURES 46, the lifting cam member being stopped in this final position by engagement of the arm 43 thereon with the abutment 21a depending from the ring support bracket 21.

Whereas in the lower or quiescent position the yarn release member 39 is beneath the path of travel of the yarn Y from the auxiliary traveler 19 to the take-up bobbin B, as shown in FIGURES 1-3, in the raised or yarn release position (FIGURES 4-6) the yarn release member has its arms 39a, 3% directly in the path of travel of the yarn during the orbitingmovement of the auxiliary traveler 19 about the axis of rotation of the spindle'lS and bobbin B. Thus, as shown schematically in FIGURE 1, with the handle 29a and lifting cam member 29 in the extreme counterclockwise initial position, which is established by engagement of abutment 21a by the hand lever 29a, the auxiliary traveler 19 will efiect the formation of wraps of yarn at a first lowermost position beneath the lower end of the normal traverse stroke of traverse ring 11, and in this position the yarn release member 39 is disposed entirely beneath the path of travel of the yarn from the auxiliary traveler 19 to the bobbin B. Likewise, it will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 that the yarn release member 39 is also below the path of travel of the yarn from the auxiliary traveler 19 to the bobbin B when the lifting cam member 29 is moved past the zone of interenga'gernent between the cam engaging finger 27a and the inclined face cam surface 41b and into thesecondary dwell position where the secondary dwell cam surface 41c is riding on the cam engaging finger 27a of the collar 27. In this vertically raised position of ring. 17, as well as during the preceding vertical rise travel of the ring 17 and traveler 19, the auxiliary traveler 19 will form the desired transfer tail wraps T,

and the continued clockwise movement of the lever 29a and lifting cam member 29 will immediately subsequent thereto efiect the raising of'the yarn release member 39 to the release position as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. In this position of the release member 5? the yarn Y will be intercepted during its movement about the axis of the spindle 15 and will be sufiieiently retarded to cause .the yarn to slip off the laterally extending finger 19a of the auxiliary traveler 19 as this traveler continues on its own momentum to move for a limited distance in an orbiting path on its supporting ring 17 Thereupon, the yarn Y will assume a path of winding onto the bobbin in the plane of the primary traverse ring 11 and associated traveler 13 at whatever position this primary ring and traveler occupies at this time. From this point on until the completion of the package build the yarn Y will be guided and layed onto the bobbin B by the primary traveler 13 without any further assistance of the auxiliary traveler 19, thereby forming the desired package build as dictated by the build mechanism (not shown) for the primary ring and traveler.

It will thus be seen that in operation it is only neces sary for the operator to thread the yarn Y through the primary traveler 11 and thence beneath the finger 19a on the auxiliary traveler 19 and thereupon to anchor the yarn to the bobbin B as by forming a few wraps thereon. Drive is then imparted to the bobbin B by the spindle 15, and, as shown in the initial position of FIG URE 1, the auxiliary ring 17 and traveler 19 will efiect the winding of the desired quantity of waste yarn in the form of waste wraps W. When the operator decides that a sutficient quantity of waste has been wound, it is only necessary for him to move the lever 29a in one continuous clockwise motion from the extreme counterclockwise angular position as shown in FIGURE 1 to the extreme clockwise position as shown in FIGURE 4, and this continuous movement will effect in the desired time sequence the formation of a plurality of transfer tail wraps T and the release of the yarn Y from the auxiliary traveler 19 such that it will begin the normal build with wraps P under the guidance of the primary ring 11 and traveler 13. While the exact number of transfer tail wraps T will be a function of the rate of angular movement of the lever arm 2%, it will be apparent that the operator may quickly determine the desired rate of movement and easily master this simple movement in order to form the most desirable number of transfer tail wraps.

In one practical situation, it has been found that the formation of four to eight wraps or so of transfer tail windings T forms a desirable transfer tail length. Obviously, after formation of the full yarn package and dofiing of the package in the conventional manner, it will only be necessary to sever the yarn connection between the transfer tail windings T and the waste wraps W in order to utilize the transfer tail in the desired manner, as in a creeling operation. In most instances, it will be desirable to remove the waste wraps W before employing the yarn package in such a creeling operation in order to prevent any snarling of the severed Waste wrap end with the yarn from the yarn package.

As shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, the auxiliary traveler 19 is so formed as to permit the twisting of the yarn in either the Z or 8 direction, this being effected by the provision of two laterally extending fingers 19a, 195 each extending in opposite downwardly inclined directions from the main C shaped body portion of the traveler. Thus, in the formation of S twist yarn, the yarn will be guided beneath one of the fingers 19a, as illustrated, whereas in the formation of Z twist yarn the yarn will be guided beneath the other of the fingers 1%. Likewise, the yarn release member 39 is formed with two yarn retarding and release arms 39a, 3%, one of which,

3%, is effective to release the yarnwhen it is being guided beneath the one finger 19a of the auxiliary traveler 19 and the other of which'release arm, 3%, is effective to release the yarn when it is being guided beneath the other radially extending finger 19b of the auxiliary traveler 19. In the instant illustrated example, the yarn is shown as being in engagement with finger 19a of the auxiliary traveler, and release of the yarn is effected by the corresponding yarn release surface 39a. In this example, the yarn has an S twist inserted therein during the twist take-up operation, and it will be noted that this twist will be inserted in the yarn during the formation of both the transfer tail wraps T and the yarn package wraps P.

While the two cam surfaces 41a and 41c are illustrated as planar surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the post 23, and thereby provide dwell periods without imparting vertical movement to the ring 17 during such periods, it is within the scope of the invention to form either or both of these two surfaces 41a and 410 with a small angle of rise, if desired, in order to effect a desired separation of the associated wraps, and particularly the transfer tail wraps T.

While this invention has been illustrated and described with reference to one preferred physical embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by this specific illustrative embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming wraps of yarn on a bobbin mounted on a yarn take-up assembly having a bobbin support and a yarn traverse guide disposed thereadjacent, comprising an auxiliary yarn guide disposed between the base end of said bobbin support and said yarn traverse guide, a yarn release unit adapted to effect selective release of the yarn from said auxiliary yarn guide, said yarn release unit being normally disposed out of the path of yarn movement through and between said guides, and a movable cam device engageable with said release unit and adapted to eliect selective movement of said release unit into yarn engaging and release position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam device is mounted for angular movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bobbin support.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam device is also engageable in linear-movement-imparting relation to said auxiliary yarn guide to impart linear movement of said auxiliary yarn guide longitudinally of said bobbin support.

4. Apparatus according to claimv 1 wherein said cam device is mounted for angular movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bobbin support, said cam device being also engageable in longitudinal-movement-irnparting relation to said auxiliary yarn guide to impart longitudinal movement of said auxiliary yarn guide longitudinally of said bobbin support.

5. In combination a take-up spindle, a traverse ring and traveler adapted to be traversed along said spindle, a tail-forming auxiliary ring and an auxiliary traveler on said auxiliary ring, a yarn release member for selectively releasing yarn from said auxiliary traveler, and a single unit engageable with both said auxiliary ring and said yarn release member and arranged in sequential movement imparting relation to said auxiliary ring and said yarn release member, said single unit being a dual cam unit having first and second cam surfaces thereon, one of said cam surfaces being engageable with said yarn release member, and the other of said cam surfaces being operative to efiect longitudinal movement of said auxiliary ring longitudinally of said spindle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said single unit is mounted for angular movement about an axis parallel with and spaced from the axis of said spindle.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a cam-engaging member engageable with said other cam surface, said other cam surface being inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to said unit axis, said cam engaging member being fixed against angular movement about said unit axis, and said other cam surface being axially movable along said axis of said unit and in motion transmitting relation to said auxiliary ring.

8. In combination, a ring for a yarn traveler mounted adjacent and about a textile spindle, a movable yarn release member adjacent said ring for selective release of yarn from a traveler on said ring, said yarn release member being normally disposed out of the path of yarn passing through said traveler and a single unit engageable in movement imparting relation with both said ring and said yarn release member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said single unit is mounted for angular movement about an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the associated adjacent textile spindle.

10. In combination, a ring for a yarn traveler mounted adjacent and about a textile spindle, a movable yarn release member adjacent said ring for selective release of yarn from a traveler on said ring, and a single unit engageable in movement imparting relation with both said ring and said yarn release member, said single unit being mounted for angular movement about an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the associated adjacent textile spindle, said single unit being a dual cam unit having two cam surfaces, one of said carn surfaces being engageable in moving relation with said yarn release member, and the other of said cam surfaces being adapted to effect longitudinal movement of said ring.

11. In combination, a take-up spindle, a yarn traverse guide disposed adjacent said spindle and movable longitudinally of said spindle to form a package of yarn thereon, and a transfer-tail-forming device disposed adjacent said spindle, said transfer-tail-forming device including a bidirectional auxiliary yarn guide for guiding yarn in either direction of twist about said spindle, and a bidirectional yarn release member selectively movable into yarn release relation adjacent said bidirectional auxiliary yarn guide, said bidirectional yarn guide being a ring and traveler, said yarn release member being normally disposed out of the path of yarn passing through said traveler, said traveler having two laterally extending yarn guiding fingers each extending from an opposite lateral side thereof.

12. In combination, a take-up spindle, a yarn traverse guide disposed adjacent said spindle and movable longitudinally of said spindle to form a package of yarn thereon, and a transfer-tailforming device disposed adjacent said spindle, said transfer-tail-forming device including a bidirectional auxiliary yarn guide for guiding yarn in either direction of twst about said spindle, and a bidirectional yarn release member selectively movable into yarn release relation adjacent said bidirectional auxiliary yarn guide, said bidirectional guide being a ring and traveler, said traveler having two laterally extending yarn fingers each extending from an opposite lateral side thereof, said yarn release member being movable longitudinally of said spindle and including two oppositely facing yar release surfaces each of which is inclined in an opposite direction with respect to the plane of said ring.

13. The combination according to claim 12 further comprising means for moving said ring and sad yarn release member longitudinally of said spindle in sequential relation.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said means for moving said ring and yarn release member is a cam device.

15. A ring moving and yarn releasing assembly for mounting adjacent a textile spindle, comprising a ringsupporting-and-raising bracket, first and second inclined cam surfaces, a yarn release member for releasing yarn dual-acting cam unit including said first and second inclined cam surfaces, said first cam surface being arranged in sequential operative relation in advance of said second cam surface.

17. Apparatus for forming wraps of yarn on a bobbin mounted on a yarn take-up assembly having a bobbin support and a yarn traverse guide disposed thereadjacent comprising: an auxiliary yarn guide disposed between the base end of said bobbin support and said yarn traverse guide, a yarn release unit adapted to efiect selective release of the yarn from said auxiliary yarn guide, and a movable carn device mounted for angular movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bobbin support and being engageable With said release unit and in lon-gitudinal-movement-imparting relation to said auxiliary yarn guide to efiect selective movement of '8 said release unit into engagement and yarn release position, movement-imparting relation first to impart longitudinal movement of said auxiliary yarn guide longitudinally of said bobbin support and in sequential angular movement relation thereafter with said yarn release unit, said cam device having a pair of inclined cam surfaces, and a dwell surface interconnected to and in subsequent angular movement relation to one of said cam surfaces,

said one cam surface eifecting movement of said auxiliary yarn guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,946 Rolland Apr. 17, 1883 1,464,674 Gilligan Aug. 14, 1923 2,127,082 Delagrange Aug. 16, 1938 2,572,135 Gons-alves Oct. 23, 1951 2,747,360 Vella May 29, 1956 2,949,724- Schroder Aug. 23, 1960 2,952,965 Binns Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 780,417 Great Britain July 31, 1957 

8. IN COMBINATION, A RING FOR A YARN TRAVELER MOUNTED ADJACENT AND ABOUT A TEXTILE SPINDLE, A MOVABLE YARN RELEASE MEMBER ADJACENT SAID RING FOR SELECTIVE RELEASE OF YARN FROM A TRAVELER ON SAID RING, SAID YARN RELEASE MEMBER BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED OUT OF THE PATH OF YARN PASSING THROUGH SAID TRAVELER AND A SINGLE UNIT ENGAGEABLE IN MOVEMENT IMPARTING RELATION WITH BOTH SAID RING AND SAID YARN RELEASE MEMBER. 